He watched Ralph keenly while he awaited his reply, sitting up in his eagerness.
“Seventy-fi’ dollars a day,” Ralph spoke without enthusiasm.
Victor’s eyes sparkled.
“Each?” he asked.
“No, on shares.”
There was another long silence while the voice of the storm was loud without. Victor Gagnon was thinking hard, but his face was calm, his expression almost indifferent. More coffee was drunk, and the smoke continued to rise.
“I ’lows you should know if it’s worked out, sure.”
The sharp eyes seemed to go through Ralph.
“Dead sure. We ain’t drawn a cent’s worth o’ colour out o’ it fer nine months solid.”
“’Tain’t worth prospectin’ fer the reef?”